If you spend a lot of time outside, getting caught out after dark is inevitable. A quality headlamp is a necessity, whether you’re out for a pre-dawn run, hiking in the woods, or trying to change a tire on the side of the highway. With literally hundreds of options on the market, it might feel difficult to find the best headlamp for your needs.
Whether you’re looking for a budget headlamp for finding your way around camp or an ultra-high-performance light for technical mountain adventures, you’re going to want a bright light with good battery life and easy controls.
I’ve relied on headlamps a lot throughout my life, and I’ve used enough to know that manufacturer claims about power and run time don’t always hold up in real life. These are our top 15 headlamp picks. I’ll guide you through the details of each and help you find the headlamp that does exactly what you need.
Black Diamond is a Utah-based company that builds top-quality climbing, skiing, and hiking gear. You’ll see this brand a lot on this list because they build an incredible range of headlamps for the outdoors.
A good headlamp needs to be bright, durable, and ready for anything. The Black Diamond Spot 400 stood out from all the headlamps we tested for its rugged construction, built-in USB rechargeable battery, and powerful light output.
After using dozens of headlamps that require AAA batteries, I became a big fan of headlamps that are rechargeable. I hate having to search for batteries when my headlamp dies, and using so many disposable batteries is wasteful and bad for the environment. Rechargeable batteries are more convenient and less harmful.
The Black Diamond Spot 400 has a built-in 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery pack that charges with a micro USB port. That’s about triple the capacity of some less expensive rechargeable headlamps, and it makes for an impressive run time.
Unlike many comparable headlamps, the Spot 400 has two different LED lights. One is focused into a narrower beam for long-distance lighting, while the other casts wide, uniform flood light for close-up work. I love using the flood lighting around camp because it minimizes the tunnel vision effect I often experience with headlamps.
There’s also a red light diode for preserving night vision.
There are two buttons on this headlamp. One switches the light on and off and adjusts the brightness. The other switches between light modes (long-distance beam, flood, red light). There was a slight learning curve before I remembered exactly how to operate the buttons, but now it’s intuitive.
Another standout feature is the fact that rather than set brightness levels, the Spot 400 has a dimming feature that lets you dial in exactly the brightness you need. With some other lights, I find that low mode is too dim but high mode is too bright. I love being able to select exactly what I want.
Oh, and it’s also rated IP67 for impressive waterproof performance. You can count on this light to keep going in extreme weather or if you accidentally drop it in a stream.
Read through this list, and you’ll find that I’m a huge fan of headlamps with rechargeable batteries. It just makes way more sense. Even though rechargeable lights cost more, they could save you money in the long run since you don’t have to keep buying AAAs. I’ll be happy if I never have to use another AAA in my life.
The Petzl Actik Core is the best rechargeable headlamp out there for anyone who prioritizes battery life,
Unlike most rechargeable headlamps, the Petzl Actik Core doesn’t have a permanently built-in battery. Instead, there is a removable 1250 mAh lithium-ion battery that charges with a micro-USB port. The removable battery design has three key advantages.
First, batteries don’t have unlimited life spans. Over hundreds of charge and recharge cycles, they will start to lose power. The Petzl CORE rechargeable battery pack can be replaced if the battery goes bad, meaning you won’t have to toss the whole headlamp.
Second, you can buy a spare Petzl CORE battery for longer outings to extend your battery life.
Third, the Petzl Actik Core can run on either the lithium-ion battery OR three AAAs. That adds a lot of versatility and means you can throw AAA batteries in your bag as backup in case the rechargeable battery pack dies.
Nitecore NU50: Best Headlamp for Hunting
On a hunting trip, you need a headlamp you can rely on to provide consistent, powerful illumination and long battery life. The Nitecore NU50 is one of the brightest headlamps on this list, and it combines that with a bomb-proof construction and incredible battery power.
Compared to most headlamps on this list, the Nitecore NU50 is built like a tank. The molded casing is sturdy, and the build quality is superb all-around. It’s also IP68 rated, which is the best waterproof rating on this list.
The downside of the sturdy build quality is weight. At 5.15 oz, this beefy headlamp is almost twice the weight of other lights on this list. If you want a headlamp to use for running or ultralight backpacking, you may want to check out some more lightweight headlamps.
Still, the well-designed headband makes this a surprisingly comfortable headlamp despite the weight.
It also features a USB-C charging port, which is an upgrade from the more fragile micro USB ports most headlamps have.
Where this light really stands out is in power. The dual LED light combination gives a total output of 1400 lumens. That makes this an ideal choice for navigating through the woods at night.
That power is backed up with impressive rechargeable battery life, too. The NU50 comes with a massive 4000 mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery that gives it 11 hours of run time in high mode and a whopping 180 hours on ultra-low.
This is a versatile headlamp that’s great for use out on a hunt, on a camping trip, or even just around the house.
I distinctly remember when I saw the first BioLite headlamps several years ago. After using more traditional block-on-a-headband-style headlamps for years, I wasn’t sure what to make of BioLite’s unique design that integrates the headlamp body directly into a wide, contoured headband. It just looked so different from everything I’d seen before.
BioLite claims that this unique design makes the BioLite Headlamp 325 the most comfortable headlamp you’ll ever wear. Yes, I’ll admit the unique design does look like it distributes the weight pretty well, but that’s still a bold claim.
But this little light lives up to that claim. If you’re sick of headlamps that bounce around on your forehead while running, you’ll love this sleek, balanced light. It’s easy to forget it’s even on your head, and that’s why it wins our top pick for running.
As the name suggests, this light outputs 325 lumens of bright white light. That’s plenty for nighttime runs on paved paths or easy trails, but if you’re venturing onto more adventurous trails, you may want something with a higher max output.
There’s both a long-distance beam and a flood light that delivers awesome light quality for seeing closer details. There’s also a red light mode for preserving your night vision.
I’m a big fan of the simple button operation, which makes this a supremely usable light.
The biggest downside is the small 700 mAh battery that gives this headlamp a run time of 3-4 hours. That’s plenty for most runs, though, so unless you’re getting into ultrarunning, that shouldn’t be a huge problem.
Fenix HM65R: Best Headlamp for Work
In my experience, Fenix builds some of the highest-quality flashlights and headlamps in the business. They don’t look as cute and stylish as some competitors, but they’re hard to beat in terms of functionality.
Whether you’re working under the hood of a car or doing site work at night, a good headlamp is an important trade tool that keeps your hands free.
The Fenix HM65R is a beast of a headlight that offers incredible power, battery life, and build quality. It’s perfect for on-the-job illumination.
Few headlamps can match the durability and ruggedness of this Fenix headlamp. It’s made from cast magnesium and molded polycarbonate, and it is IPX68-rated for the best water and dust protection available.
This light boasts an impressive 1400-lumen max output and casts a beam up to 178 yards. That power is backed up with a lithium-ion battery with a massive 3400 mAh capacity that ensures you won’t need to carry extra batteries.
Unlike many headlamps with rechargeable batteries, the Fenix HM65R battery is replaceable with any 18650-size lithium cell. That extends the life of this light while still keeping the advantages over alkaline batteries.
Other nice features include a battery indicator, USB-C charging, and different lighting modes for spot and flood lighting.
The biggest downsides are weight and cost. This isn’t a headlamp you’ll want to carry into the backcountry, but if you need the best illumination on the job site, this is a great headlamp option.
Petzl Iko Core: Best Trail Running Headlamp
Trail running at night requires a powerful light with a good beam distance and enough width to keep you aware of what’s around you. Comfort is also key because you don’t want a heavy brick bouncing around on your head while you run.
The Petzl Iko Core is a one-of-a-kind headlamp designed specifically for trail running. It looks nothing like other running headlamps, and while the design may look a little odd at first, it works incredibly well.
Instead of the typical elastic headband on most headlamps, the Iko Core has a flexible plastic frame that reminds me a bit of the arms on sport sunglasses. The difference is that it wraps around your entire head.
This design provides better support and doesn’t need to be cinched down as tight to stay in place. This helps tremendously with comfort while running.
Another difference is that the Iko Core splits the battery compartment and LED emitter into separate components. The LED light is on the front while the batteries are on the back. This creates much better weight distribution and balance.
This headlamp doesn’t skimp on performance either. With a 500-lumen output from 7 LEDs, this running headlamp easily illuminates the trail to give you confidence.
Plus, it’s durable and weather-resistant. Really, the only downside is that this headlamp doesn’t pack down as small as most others.
How to Choose the Best Headlamp
There are several factors to consider when you’re trying to sort through the best headlamps.
Brightness
Headlamp brightness is typically measured in lumens. The higher the lumen count, the brighter the light.
Generally, anything over 300 lumens is sufficient for hiking or general tasks. You may want something brighter for trail running or if you want longer-distance illumination.
Some headlamps have 1000 lumens or higher, which is incredibly bright. These high-power headlamps are awesome, but they also use a lot more power and drain their batteries quickly on the highest mode.
Weather Resistance
If you’re using a headlamp for hiking, running, camping, or anything else outside, there’s a good chance it will get rained on.
Most headlamps are IPX4 rated, which means they are tested to withstand splashing or jets of water. This rating is completely sufficient for rain and weather protection.
If you want the absolute best water resistance possible, look for a light that is rated IP68 or IPX8. These are the best headlamps for severe weather because they are fully submersible and entirely waterproof.
Disposable or Rechargeable Batteries
It used to be that the standard was for headlamps to use three AAA batteries. That’s still the most common option, but now manufacturers like Black Diamond and others are building more headlamps with built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Standard batteries are convenient, and it’s nice that you can find them anywhere, but they often end up costing more in the long run. Plus, if your batteries die and you don’t have any on hand, you’re SOL until you buy some more. AAA batteries are also much worse environmentally.
Rechargeable lights are more expensive up front, but I think the extra cost is always worth it, especially if you use your headlamp frequently.
Battery Life
Whether you choose a headlamp that uses AAAs or recharges with a USB cable, battery life is a major concern. The last thing you want is for your headlamp to die when you’re in the middle of a task or out on a hike.
Most manufacturers advertise run times on different brightnesses. I would always take these with a grain of salt, though. I used a headlamp that said it runs for five hours, but after two hours it was so dim that it wasn’t much use. I recommend always reading reviews to see other people’s real-world testing and experiences with battery life.
Why Trust TravelFreak?
Here at TravelFreak, we are committed to giving you the absolute best product recommendations possible. We are all avid adventurers and are gear junkies at heart. We believe in investing in quality gear that will last a lifetime, and we only recommend products that we actually like.
I’ve tested dozens of headlamps on hikes, winter trail runs, long-distance backpacking trips, and dawn patrol ski touring outings. I dug into the details under the hood of these headlamps to find out how they really perform. I have confidence in every single light on this list.
